Coilover
AP coilover kits offer the possibility to adjust drivers the desired lowering accurate to a millimeter for the sporty ambitioned driver. We offer sporty handling and ideal performance in combination with the maximum lowering. You have the possibility to adjust the height within the German TUV approved adjustment range by tuning the aluminium spring perch individual. The parallel matching of sportiness, comfort and safety offer an ideal setup.
Spring
The AP springs not only provide the fact, how far your car can be lowered: Their job is also to „carry“ the vehicle and to absorb road shocks and convert them into vibrations. It also connects “unsprung mass” (wheels, brake) and “sprung mass” (bodywork, parts of the wheel suspension). Together with the damper and the wheel suspension, the spring keeps a controllable road contact.
Spring Rate
The spring rate describes the stiffness of a spring. The higher the spring rate, the more force is required to compress the spring. If the spring has a rate of 50N (Newton), a force of 50 kg is needed to compress the spring by one millimeter. This is called a linear spring rate. With a progressive spring rate, the spring usually works comfortable and at stronger shocks it works harder. If you drive over a pothole, at first the bigger windings are squeezed together.
Dampers
Actually dampers do not “damp”, like their name suggests, the resulting impact energy when driving through road bumps. Their job is more likely to reduce the vibrations generated by driving the car. Basically, the dampers convert the kinetic energy into thermal energy by fluid friction.
Construction and working method of an AP damper
The AP dampers are built of two housings: an inner tube and an outer tube. In the inner tube which is also called piston housing, the piston rod with its valve plates is located. During compression, the piston rod is pushed down and the damper fluid which is placed in the piston housing flows through the bottom valve into the outer housing. In rebounding, the oil flows through the rebound piston. So-called non-return valves allow a controlled flow back of oil from the outer housing into the inner tube. Professionals call this shock structure: twin-tube dampers.
Remaining Thread
According to the vehicle type, AP coilovers have a so-called “remaining thread” being contingent on the construction type. This makes it theoretically possible to lower your car even more. But attention, friends of extreme lowering: If you screw the ap coilover lower than stated in the certificate, the certificate is not valid anymore and you have to go to a single inspection! You also should realize that this can result in a greater wear on your car – and of course, your car cannot be driven that well anymore as if you stay with your AP coilover in the tested range.
